Trouble on the Books
Page 25
“Really? Well, it worked, and I’m sure she enjoyed every minute of it,” Edie said, and then took a long drink from her beer bottle. “I’m going to throw some soup on. After your chilly afternoon, I think that’s just what you need, Shelby.” She looked at the men. “You’re both welcome to stay.”
Zack stood. “I have more paperwork than you can imagine to start in on, but thanks, Edie.”
Matthew also stood. “And I have to make a statement to Lieutenant Guthrie. He’d like something official for his files. I’ll call you later, Edie.”
Shelby felt disappointed but stood and turned to Zack. “Thanks for what you did out there today. You saved my life.”
He leaned into her as he passed by on this way to the door. “I’ll let you thank me properly later.” His breath fanned the side of her face.
She felt her cheeks flame and was glad the others had already left the room.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
A couple of days later, Shelby sat on the roof of her houseboat, soaking in the late-afternoon sun, trying to relax after a particularly busy day at the bookstore. She heard footsteps coming along the dock, then felt a gentle list as someone stepped aboard. She knew she should get up and check it out or, at the very least, call out, but she was hoping whoever it was would think no one was home and leave. She just wanted to be alone. She hadn’t had much of that lately.
She heard someone climbing up the stairs and knew it must be Zack. At least, she thought it sounded like him, which surprised her. How had she gotten to recognize his footsteps?
“Aren’t you supposed to ask for permission to come aboard?” she called out.
“Not when it’s a social call,” Zack answered as he walked to where she sat.
She opened her eyes. “If it’s social, I should offer you a glass of wine, but I’m afraid I’m too lazy right now. You’ll find the bottle in the fridge.”
He grinned and gave her a quick salute. When he next appeared, he had the bottle in one hand and two glasses in the other. It wasn’t just his black T-shirt and shorts that added to his off-duty appearance. She realized she’d been learning to read his body language over the past few weeks. When he was on official business, he looked more stern and held his body in a more rigid pose. Today he looked relaxed, from the smile in his eyes to the sag of his shoulders. She felt a little pleased with herself for noticing.
“Let’s consider this a predinner drink,” Zack said, handing her a glass, “and then I’d like to take you out, maybe to Absinthe & Aurum? I hear they have great food.”
She looked at him a bit more closely. Did he know about her date with Drew? Time to change the subject.
“I’m glad there won’t be a resort either on the mainland or the island. I kind of like it all the way it is.”
“So, you’re still thinking this feels like home?”
“Oh, it does, and I like taking this slow, easing my way into the community, so I’d rather no dramatic changes were made. Not yet, anyway.”
“I sort of got those vibes from you.” Zack looked at her and she blushed. He looked back out over the water. “I agree. I’d hate to see the Bay become too busy. If it had come to that, I would have made my feelings known.”
“That’s always a good thing.”
“Yes.”
They were staring at each other, and Shelby felt it hard to pull her eyes away. She wasn’t sure where this conversation was going, but it made her unsettled, so she tried to bring it back around to where they’d started. “So, anything new about Duncan and Barry?”
“Caine has been formally charged with murder and denied bail, which I think is a good thing. He could be a flight risk, and he does have a lot of connections that could make that happen. Barry Pellen is being charged as an accessory and also not granted bail. Until they go to trial, the police will be trying to tie up any loose ends and making sure all the bases are covered.”
“Are you part of that process?”
“To some extent, but I’m still on the trail of the smugglers. I’m really hoping we can wrap that up very soon. But it’s up to Chief Stone to finish up this case.
“So, we won’t be seeing as much of you around here?” She tried to make the question sound neutral, as if it were of little consequence to her.
He grinned. “I still live here, you know. And I’ll have to check on the grotto every now and then. I also think you’re bound to keep getting yourself into trouble, if you decide to stick around. I feel obligated to make sure you remain safe.”
“Obligated?”
“Well, yeah. I did save your life, didn’t I?”
“Well … yeah. I guess you did.” She smiled, unable to stifle the feeling of pleasure that seemed to be suffusing her entire being.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Of course, she would be staying, Shelby mused as she walked over to Edie’s the next day. She’d already phoned her boss at Masspike Publishing and resigned. After all, she had a bookstore empire to handle, she thought with a grin. Besides, she still wanted to talk to Prissy Newmarket and Izzy Crocker about her mom. She also had new friends, especially a certain special agent. And she had a loving aunt who needed her. She did believe that.
At some point she might try to track down her mom, but at present it didn’t really matter. Edie was the one who was there for her, just as her dad had been for all those years while she was growing up. Sure, it still hurt a bit to think that her mom had rejected her, and maybe the fact that she hadn’t tried to make contact was a good indicator that Shelby shouldn’t either. But that was a question for another time.
Shelby found Edie sitting outside in her backyard. She paused a moment before walking down the back stairs, wanting to take in the colorful view and also to watch Edie for a few moments. Then she took a deep breath and slowly walked down the steps. Edie heard the creaking and turned to look at her, a look of anxiety on her face.
“I thought we could share some crackers and cheese along with a glass of wine before supper,” Shelby explained, setting the tray she was carrying on the wooden patio table.
“That’s a lovely thought, Shelby.” Edie accepted the glass of wine that Shelby held out to her. Shelby thought of it as a peace offering.
She grabbed her own and sat on a green Adirondack chair set at a right angle to Edie’s. Edie helped herself to a cream cracker and a slice of Brie and continued to look at her garden. After a few minutes, Shelby put her glass down.
“I’ve come to a decision, Aunt Edie. I’m staying in Alex Bay. It’s where I belong, and the bookstores are also where I want to be. With you.”
Edie turned to Shelby, tears in her eyes. “I’m so very, very happy to hear you say that, Shelby. I’ve been worried that I messed things up and you’d be desperate to leave.”
Shelby reached over and took Edie’s hand. “You’re family, the only family I have. And I’m going to try not to spend the rest of my life dwelling on the past. I have to admit, I’m still trying to come to terms with you and Dad doing, or not doing, what you did. But the main thing I’m taking from this is that you both love me. So, I figure that’s pretty great.”
“I’m relieved, honey. And also, I think we’ll have a good future with the bookstores. And at some point soon, I’ll want to start stepping back a bit from the business, and hopefully, you’ll be happy to take over. I think, too, that there may be other aspects of this place, one in particular, that will grow on you even more.” She winked and took another drink from her glass.
Shelby thought about that for a few minutes. She wondered what Zack would think about her decision. Then she thought back to his good-night kiss after dinner the night before. She was certain he would approve.
Author Biography
Essie Lang has been nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel and has also been short-listed for an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada for Best Short Story under other pennames. She is a former mystery bookstore owner and still loves reading all the myster
ies she can get her hands on. She also loves choral singing, which is not always so pleasant for her Siamese cat, Keesha, who must endure hours of practice. This is her first Castle Bookshop Mystery.
This is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, organizations, places and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real or actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2019 by Linda Wiken
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Crooked Lane Books, an imprint of The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC.
Crooked Lane Books and its logo are trademarks of The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC.
Library of Congress Catalog-in-Publication data available upon request.
ISBN (hardcover): 978-1-68331-981-8
ISBN (ePub): 978-1-68331-982-5
ISBN (ePDF): 978-1-68331-983-2
Cover illustration by Teresa Fasolino
Printed in the United States.
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Crooked Lane Books
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First Edition: March 2019
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